Acquired immunodeficiency

syndrome

Course title
Microbiology

Teacher’s name
Hossam Elasbaa

Students’ names

‫عماري‬ ‫عبدهللا علي‬

‫عبدالملك المولد‬

‫عبدالرحمن عبدالرحيم‬

‫عبدالعزيز المطيري‬

‫عوده القاضي‬
 Introduction
Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is a chronic,
potentially life-threatening condition caused by the human
immunodeficiency virus (HIV). By damaging your immune
system, HIV interferes with your body's ability to fight
infection and disease.

HIV is a sexually transmitted infection (STI). It can also be

spread by contact with infected blood and from illicit injection
drug use or sharing needles. It can also be spread from
mother to child during pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding.
Without medication, it may take years before HIV weakens
your immune system to the point that you have AIDS
 Pathogenesis of {AIDS}
The lentivirus human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) causes AIDS by
interacting with many different cells in the body and escaping the
host immune response against it.

HIV is transmitted primarily through blood and genital fluids and to

newborn infants from infected mothers. The steps occurring in
infection involve an interaction of HIV not only with the CD4 molecule
on cells but also with other cellular receptors recently identified.

Virus-cell fusion and HIV entry subsequently take place. Following

virus infection, a variety of intracellular mechanisms determine the
relative expression of viral regulatory and accessory genes leading to
productive or latent infection.

With CD4+ lymphocytes, HIV replication can cause syncytium

formation and cell death; with other cells, such as macrophages,
persistent infection can occur, creating reservoirs for the virus in many
cells and tissues. HIV strains are highly heterogeneous, and certain
biologic and serologic properties determined by specific genetic
sequences can be linked to pathogenic pathways and resistance to the
immune response. The host reaction against HIV, through neutralizing
antibodies and particularly through strong cellular immune responses,
can keep the virus suppressed for many years.
 Symptoms of {AIDS}

 High body temperature.

o Headache.
o Feeling muscle pain.
o Sore throat.
o night sweats.
o Mouth ulcers and oral thrush.
o Swollen lymph nodes (lymph nodes.
o sweating.
o chills.
o frequent fever.
o chronic diarrhea
Laboratory diagnosis of {AIDS}
Newer, Improved HIV Tests Allow for Earlier HIV Detection
HIV tests have improved substantially over the years, and are now easier and less
expensive, with a more rapid turnaround time for results.

Three types of HIV tests are available:

 Nucleic acid tests (NATs) — detects HIV ribonucleic acid (RNA)

 Antigen/antibody combination tests — detects HIV p24 antigen as well as

HIV immunoglobulin M (IgM) and immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies

 Antibody tests — detects HIV IgM and/or IgG antibodies

Following an exposure that leads to HIV infection, the amount of time during
which no existing diagnostic test is capable of detecting HIV is called the eclipse
period.
The time between potential HIV exposure and an accurate test result is referred
to as the window period. Improvements in testing technology continue to reduce
the detection window period, and, therefore, the time to diagnosis and treatment
of early HIV infection.
As seen in the figure, each type of HIV test has its own testing window, with the
NAT capable of detecting HIV the earliest, followed by the antigen/antibody
combination test, and lastly, the antibody test.
 Prevention and treatment
from {AIDS}

How is HIV treated?

HIV is treated with a combination of medicines (pills) taken by mouth

every day. This combination of pills is called antiretroviral therapy
(ART).

Taking a combination of types of pills, rather than just one, is the

most effective way to keep HIV from multiplying and destroying your
cells. There are also combination pills that have several medications
in a single pill. Your healthcare provider will carefully select a
combination specifically for you.

The goal of ART is to reduce HIV in the blood (viral load) to an amount
that’s not detectable by an HIV test and to slow HIV’s weakening of
your immune system.
 Prevention and treatment
from {AIDS}

How can I reduce my risk of getting HIV?

The best way to reduce your risk of HIV is to be aware of how it

spreads and protect yourself during certain activities. Having sex
without a condom and sharing needles to take drugs are the most
common ways that HIV spreads.
These are some ways to reduce your risk:

Use latex  condoms  (rubbers) whenever you have any type of sex
(vaginal, anal, or oral).

Don't use condoms made from animal products (like lambskin).

Use water-based lubricants (lotion).

Never share needles to take drugs.

Get tested and treated for other STDs. Other STDs can put you at
higher risk for an HIV infection.

Avoid getting drunk or high. Intoxicated people might be less likely to

protect themselves.
If you are at high risk of HIV exposure, ask your healthcare provider if
you should be taking pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP).

If you think you’ve been exposed to HIV, contact your healthcare

provider as soon as possible to see if you should take post-exposure
prophylaxis (PEP).

Consider getting tested to know if you can pass HIV to others.

 References

1-Mayo Clinic.

2 – Pubmed

3- cleveland clinic

4- National AIDS Control Organization (NACO)

5- Joshi S.H. and Chipkar S.S., 1997, Laboratory detection

of HIV infection. Bombay Hospital J 39(1):
99–108.